Erie County’s Health Department Seeks Water Laboratory
February 4, 2016
By: Tom Jackson, Sandusky Register
February 4, 2016
The Erie County Health Department is seeking $240,000 to open up a water laboratory in Sandusky to provide fast testing for water samples taken in Lake Erie and other local water sources.
It makes sense to be able to carry out rapid testing during a harmful algal bloom or when it's suspected that bacteria from sewer overflows is threatening local water, rather than having to wait for results to come back, said Pete Schade, Erie County's health commissioner.
"It's almost unbelievable that there isn't a water lab up here," Schade said as he discussed the proposal last week with the health department's board.
A health department document points out that water labs to do harmful algal bloom water analysis are in locations such as Cuyahoga Heights (70 miles away), Beachwood (77 miles away), Stow (85 miles away) and Columbus (103 miles away).
In some cases, water labs won't test samples until they have a full tray of samples, Schade said, delaying results for days.
When there's a possible water emergency, "we don't have that kind of time to wait," he said.
An Erie County Health Department water lab would serve the health department but also would be an asset to nearby health departments and other government agencies which could use a nearby water lab and fast results, Schade said.
Schade estimates the first year cost of setting up a water laboratory would be $250,000, including construction to prepare a lab, equipment purchases, and $75,000 to cover personnel costs for the first year. Existing space at the health department would be used. Fees would cover the cost of the program in subsequent years.
Schade has searched for money by giving presentations to the staffs of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; U.S. Sen Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo.
In addition, he's been talking to state Rep. Steve Arndt, R-Port Clinton, and state Sen. Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green. There's been discussion about a state capital improvements program to help improve water quality in Lake Erie, so that could be a possible vehicle for funding a Sandusky water lab, Schade said.